Posted on 07/27/2005 5:42:59 AM PDT by OESY
...Most conservatives and libertarians have been giddy about the prospect of an AFL-CIO breakup, hoping that the schism would diminish labor's power and influence. Many liberals are worried about the same thing. That might indeed happen, but a more likely outcome is that a new labor federation rivaling the AFL-CIO and led by Andy Stern will actually reinvigorate labor and move it into the 21st century.
Stern is a savvy leader who has a sophisticated grasp of the new economy and understands that, in order to survive, labor must be more than just an appendage of the Democratic Party. He envisions a new labor movement that takes a different approach to organizing and doesn't conform to old union stereotypes....
Stern hasn't stopped at just questioning how unions organize. He has also called into question labor's long-time alliance with the Democratic Party.
...Stern was quoted as saying that the economic policy of the Democratic Party "is basically being opposed to Republicans and protecting the New Deal. It makes me realize how vibrant the Republicans are in creating 21st-century ideas, and how sad it is that we're defending 60-year-old ideas."
Stern... writing, "I also agree that the labor movement has been too much of an appendage of the Democratic Party"... declaring "We can't just elect Democratic politicians and try to take back the House and take back the Senate and think that's going to change workers' lives."
In May, he blasted unions' excessive spending on politics....
It's not that Stern thinks labor needs to abandon the Democratic Party completely — far from it. But Stern correctly believes that the interest of rank-and-file union members are better served by organizing and rebuilding the labor movement, not acting as the Democratic Party's ATM....
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Giddy? I haven't seen any evidence of giddiness. Most everyone I have read is taking a wait-and-see attitude. No one knows whether the economy, our global competitiveness, business or labor will be better off. So much or O'Keefe's dramatic rhetorical style, which also undercuts his credibility. Maybe his pals at American Enterprise were drinking Kool Aid.
Your right on! I am one of those with a wait and see attitude.
"We can't just elect Democratic politicians and try to take back the House and take back the Senate...."
Dude, you CAN'T elect anyone. Nobody who couldn't get elected anyway has been "pushed over the top" by union backing in a long time.
This move is the biggest story of the summer. I love that it will slid right under the radar and hit the rats in the back of the head next year and in 08.
It is not possible for Stern to now turn around and become john swine-y light. He must stay out of politics for at least two cycles or face ridicule and abandonment.
THIS IS VERY GOOD NEWS FRIENDS. All we need now is strong enforcement of Beck and we've got their backs broken.
What is this puff piece about? Stern and the SEIU coughed up 65 miilion bucks to the rats in the last cycle. The SEIU is in bed with some of the most radical organizations in the country.
Sure, they want to spend more time and money organizing but if the near past is any indication of the near future, it will be among the Spanish speaking, gay bath house workers and Wal-Mart employees.
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